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Civil legal aid regret The House of Lords heard Lord Pannick’s motion to regret the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations on 7 May. Introducing the debate, Lord Pannick said that the regulations were just “one example of many where the changes which this Lord Chancellor is imposing are far more damaging than any disease which they purport to treat”. The debate drew cross-party support and 13 peers spoke in favour of the motion, highlighting defects both in the regulations – which came into effect in April and limit the availability of legal aid for proceedings in judicial review – and in the principle of having a non-lawyer as Lord Chancellor.
Bar Council Officers 2015 The Bar Council has announced the election of its Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Treasurer for 2015. Chairman-elect is Alistair MacDonald QC, Vice-Chairman elect is Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC and Treasurer-elect is Lorinda J Long. The new Officers take up their new posts in January 2015. Until then, Alistair MacDonald QC will continue to serve as Vice Chairman of the Bar.
Magna Carta conference Temple Church is holding an international conference on Magna Carta, Religion and the Rule of Law on Saturday 7 June.
Civil legal aid regret The House of Lords heard Lord Pannick’s motion to regret the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations on 7 May. Introducing the debate, Lord Pannick said that the regulations were just “one example of many where the changes which this Lord Chancellor is imposing are far more damaging than any disease which they purport to treat”. The debate drew cross-party support and 13 peers spoke in favour of the motion, highlighting defects both in the regulations – which came into effect in April and limit the availability of legal aid for proceedings in judicial review – and in the principle of having a non-lawyer as Lord Chancellor.
Bar Council Officers 2015 The Bar Council has announced the election of its Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Treasurer for 2015. Chairman-elect is Alistair MacDonald QC, Vice-Chairman elect is Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC and Treasurer-elect is Lorinda J Long. The new Officers take up their new posts in January 2015. Until then, Alistair MacDonald QC will continue to serve as Vice Chairman of the Bar.
Magna Carta conference Temple Church is holding an international conference on Magna Carta, Religion and the Rule of Law on Saturday 7 June.
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Developing a tech start-up demands a different definition of excellence to the Bar, says Saara Idelbi. The co-creator of Advocatr on entrepreneurship, AI advocacy training, and matching the thrill of a killer cross-examination
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
